Spurs ‘walking wounded’ showing improvement

The four injured players who missed the Spurs’ loss Monday against Portland all were back at practice as they prepare for their game Thursday night against Boston.

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich was pleased with the recovery. He said that Tony Parker (left patella contusion) and Antonio McDyess (lower back contusion) both were closer to recovery than Tim Duncan (sprained left ankle) or Manu Ginobili (left quadriceps contusion.)

“They are getting there,” Popovich said. “We’ll just see how everybody looks tomorrow.”

Popovich said that Parker and McDyess likely will be ready for the Celtics while the other players remain day-to-day.

But all of them appeared spry during the part of workout where the media was allowed. Duncan did not appear to be favoring his injured ankle during shooting drills. And at one point of the practice, Ginobili turned and punted the basketball about 25 yards.

“We pretty much did everything,” Popovich said about the practice.

Duncan has been out for the most time since his injury early in the March 21 victory over Golden State. He has missed all of the games of his team’s recent four-game losing streak.

“He’s close,” Popovich said. “We just have to make a decision on it.”

Popovich joked that he wanted Parker to wear some oversized knee pads to protect his injury.

“I wanted to give him those volleyball knee pads,” Popovich said. “But he thought they were uncool.”

Parker said he could have played Monday night in an emergency situation.